Company News and Updates Archive | Choozle Blog Section

Harnessing the Power of Retail Media in Digital Advertising

Choozle — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 06:25:42 +0000

Retail media is taking a strategic position in the digital advertising space, emerging as a powerful, future-proof channel to bring brands closer to their target audiences. According to a recent forecast by eMarketer, omnichannel retail media ad spend is set to hit $59.98 billion in 2024. With such substantial investment flowing into this channel and a growing demand for first-party data, it’s clear that many other businesses will seek to capitalize on the opportunities presented by retail media. In this blog, we’ll outline what retail media is and how you can capitalize on this advertising opportunity.

Leveraging Data for Precision Targeting

Successful retail brands are capitalizing on the rich reservoirs of data housed within major retailers’ ecosystems. By tapping into finely-tuned, purchase-based audiences, these brands achieve closed-loop measurement, accurately attributing online and in-store sales to their digital campaigns.

Retail media allows advertisers to target specific audiences based on their shopping behaviors, preferences, and demographics. This targeted approach enhances the effectiveness of advertising campaigns by reaching consumers who are more likely to be interested in the products or services being promoted.

Despite uncertainties surrounding cookie-based targeting and shifts towards opt-in advertising, retailers remain resilient, leveraging their vast repositories of first-party consumer data to drive personalized ad delivery and measured performance.

What is retail media?

In brief, retail media refers to advertising strategies where brands collaborate with retailers to reach their target audience. When you think of retail media, you probably think of more traditional examples, like branded in-store end caps or coupons and catalogs via direct mail, but modern retail media has evolved significantly with the digital transformation of the industry.

By becoming a more integral part of the digital marketing landscape, retail media has become a mechanism where brands can leverage the data and, in many cases, the on-site inventory of their retailers and their respective platforms to promote their own products or services. Today, retailers are rolling out their own advertising platforms (see: Walmart Connect, Amazon Ads, or Kroger Precision Marketing) or partnering up with industry-leading buy-side platforms to provide advertisers the ability to target against their first-party, purchase-based audiences and accurately measure the corresponding performance and impact of their marketing efforts. So which retailer is leading the charge?

Diversified Placement Opportunities

As retail and ad tech continue to merge, retailers are expanding their array of media placement options significantly. These encompass “on-site” advertising opportunities, which involve showcasing ads and videos directly on the retailer’s own websites or apps (for instance, Amazon Sponsored Product Ads). Meanwhile, there’s also what’s commonly known as “off-site advertising,” where retailers furnish advertisers with the necessary data to target their customers across third-party channels like Connected TV (CTV) streaming platforms, diverse web publishers, or social media platforms. Notably, all this is accomplished while leveraging the invaluable audience data inherent in their respective retail platforms.

4 Strategies for Retail Media Success

In the dynamic world of retail media, savvy brands are capitalizing on the wealth of data provided by retailers to execute highly effective omnichannel campaigns. These campaigns employ a diverse array of targeting strategies, each tailored to engage and resonate with specific audience segments, such as:

1. Competitive Conquesting: This tactic empowers advertisers to zero in on consumers who have previously or frequently purchased products from their competitors. Depending on the retailer’s capabilities, this approach can vary from broadly targeting frequent purchasers of products within your category to more precisely retargeting individuals who have recently bought specific items from your competitors.

2. Retargeting Past Purchasers: Particularly impactful for brands in industries like CPG, F&B, and apparel, retargeting past purchasers serves as a potent method to re-engage with an existing customer base. Whether the aim is to advertise a sale, introduce a new product, or maintain brand awareness, this tactic stands as a cornerstone within retail media, consistently delivering strong results across diverse campaign objectives.

3. Excluding Past Purchasers: Leveraging the same past purchaser data, many brands opt to exclude these individuals from their targeting efforts to ensure their ad impressions aren’t wasted on users who have already made a purchase and are no longer potential customers. This tactic is commonly employed by brands with a focus on one-time purchases, such as appliances or consumer electronics.

4. Targeting Lifestyle and Past & Predictive Category Buyers: Targeting Lifestyle and Past & Predictive Category Buyers: An essential aspect of retail media strategy involves leveraging retailer-syndicated lifestyle and purchase category segments to connect with the desired audience. Whether it’s a burgeoning healthy snack brand seeking out regular purchasers of organic or health-conscious products, or a pet food brand aiming to increase awareness among new or existing pet owners, this tactic serves as a fundamental upper-funnel approach for all retail media campaigns.

In summary, retail media is important due to its ability to target consumers effectively, provide valuable data insights, accurately measure results, and enhance the overall shopping experience. As the retail landscape evolves with technological advancements and changing consumer expectations, retail media is poised to become an even more crucial marketing strategy moving forward.

Ready to get started?

With Choozle, you gain access to a network of top-tier retailers and buy-side platforms, allowing you to execute strategic and high-performing media campaigns seamlessly. Whether your brand is featured on Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Albertsons, Walgreens, Meijer, Drizly, Fanatics, or any other major retailer, we’ve got you covered.

If your brand is already selling through these retail channels or simply interested in exploring the potential of retail media, our team is here to help. Reach out to us at sales@choozle.com, and let’s schedule a call to discuss how Choozle can tailor a solution to meet your specific marketing objectives. Let’s elevate your brand together.

Hunter Phillips

Hunter Phillips is the Director of Business Development and Learning at Choozle and is passionate about helping companies drive growth through marketing technologies. Throughout his seven-year tenure with Choozle he has worked in various roles across AdOps, Product, and Partnerships. Before Choozle, Hunter led marketing efforts for several early-stage technology companies. Outside of work, Hunter spends his time traversing Colorado outdoors with his rescue pup, Pepper, and exploring all the new restaurants and live music Denver offers.

The post Harnessing the Power of Retail Media in Digital Advertising appeared first on choozle.

Beyond the Salary: Evaluating Benefits, Recruitment Experience, and Empathy in Job Decisions

Choozle — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:32:00 +0000

When considering a job offer, salary is often the first number that catches your eye. While it’s undeniably important, focusing solely on salary can cause you to overlook other essential components of your compensation package. In today’s workplace, benefits, company culture, and the recruitment experience all significantly shape your overall well-being, job satisfaction, and long-term financial health.

Additionally, it’s important to recognize that not everyone has the luxury of carefully weighing their options—sometimes, accepting a job is about meeting immediate needs and surviving. Whether you have the freedom to choose or face more urgent financial circumstances, understanding the full picture of a job offer can help you make the best decision for your personal and professional future.

At Choozle, we understand that a holistic approach to compensation is key. That’s why we reevaluate our benefits, perks, and offerings yearly to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our diverse employee base.

Here’s why you should evaluate not just salary but also the benefits, perks, and experience a company offers before making a decision.

Healthcare Costs Can Add Up

A robust healthcare package is one of the company’s most valuable benefits. Employer-sponsored health insurance can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for medical care, saving you thousands of dollars a year. Compare the quality of the health plans (including deductibles, co-pays, and coverage) between companies. Even if the salary is higher at one company, a weaker health plan could eat away at your earnings.

For example:

Company A offers you a $90,000 salary but only covers 50% of your healthcare premium, leaving you with a monthly bill of $250.
Company B offers you $85,000 but covers 100% of your premium, meaning no out-of-pocket costs for healthcare.

While Company A offers a higher salary, Company B provides a more financially beneficial healthcare plan that can offset the lower salary over time.

Choozle does everything possible to keep costs low for employees while maintaining rich benefits, including contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and 401ks and covering 100% of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and telehealth.

Learn more about Choozle’s benefits here.

Retirement Contributions Help Secure Your Future

Many companies offer 401(k) matching programs, giving you “free money” for retirement savings. If one company matches a significant portion of your contributions and another doesn’t, it could drastically impact your long-term financial goals. Consider how much a company contributes to your retirement and how it complements your salary over time.

For example:

Company A offers a 3% 401(k) match on a $100,000 salary, contributing $3,000 annually to your retirement savings.
Company B offers a 6% match on a $90,000 salary, contributing $5,400 annually.

While Company A may offer a higher salary, Company B contributes more to your retirement fund, providing long-term financial benefits that could outweigh the difference in base salary.

Work-Life Balance is Priceless

Perks like flexible work schedules, remote working options, or generous paid time off (PTO) policies can drastically improve your quality of life. A higher salary may lose appeal with strict office hours, minimal time off, or a lack of flexibility. Consider the value of time and how important it is for your personal well-being.

For example:

Company A offers $95,000 but has rigid office hours with limited PTO.
Company B offers $90,000 but provides the ability to work from home twice a week and offers unlimited PTO.

In this case, Company B‘s flexibility can lead to a higher quality of life, making it more attractive despite the slightly lower salary.

Choozle prioritizes work-life balance by offering flexibility and a robust time-off package that includes paid volunteer time, sick leave, vacation, bereavement, 12 holidays, and parental leave. Choozle also provides a quarterly standard for healthy time off.

Professional Development & Career Growth

If you’re looking for long-term career growth, development opportunities such as training programs, mentorship, or tuition reimbursement can be incredibly valuable. These perks can help you advance your career and increase your future earning potential.

For example:

Company A may offer a $95,000 salary but no formal career development programs.
Company B offers a $90,000 salary but covers $5,000 yearly in professional certifications, training, or tuition.

Company B may offer more in terms of career progression, potentially leading to higher salaries down the road.

Choozle’s commitment to growth and development is evident through full access to LinkedIn Learning, growth tracks for all roles, and a cross-departmental buddy system that deepens employees’ skills and interpersonal connections with coworkers.

The Intangibles: Company Culture & Values

A company that promotes mental wellness, diversity and inclusion, and employee recognition can create a much more enjoyable work environment. Perks like wellness programs, memberships, or social activities can keep employees engaged and motivated, making their work experience more rewarding.

For example:

Company A offers a higher salary but has minimal support for wellness initiatives.
Company B offers a wellness stipend, memberships, and mental health resources, fostering a healthier work-life balance.

Choozle offers a range of resources to support employee wellness, including free mental health services and a monthly wellness stipend to help you stay balanced and healthy. Our commitment to fostering an inclusive, educated, and supportive workplace is reflected in our DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) committee, which ensures that inclusivity is a priority across the organization. To keep recognition top of mind, we’ve also created a team shout-out channel, making it easy for everyone to celebrate wins and acknowledge each other’s hard work regularly.

Stock Options & Equity

If you’re joining a company that offers stock options or equity, this can be a game-changer for your financial future. Although it may not immediately reflect in your paycheck, the potential for significant long-term wealth accumulation can be worth weighing heavily against a higher salary offer without such benefits.

For example:

Company A offers a base salary of $100,000.
Company B offers $90,000 but includes stock options that could be worth much more in the future.

Equity might not pay off immediately, but it has the potential for significant long-term value.

All employees at Choozle receive stock options upon joining, with opportunities to earn more through promotions or awards.

Ancillary Benefits

In addition to salary and traditional benefits, many companies provide ancillary perks that are either fully covered or offered at a discounted rate. These benefits can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs and enhance your quality of life.

Examples of ancillary benefits include:

Health Insurance Premiums: Some employers cover 100% of the health insurance premium, while others offer subsidized rates. A company that covers a large portion of your premium can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually.
Life Insurance: Many companies provide basic life insurance coverage (typically 1-3 times your annual salary) at no cost, with the option to purchase additional coverage at a discounted rate.
Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability insurance may be fully covered by the employer or offered at a discount, ensuring financial protection in case of illness or injury.
Mental Health Support: Access to mental health resources such as counseling services, therapy sessions, or wellness apps is often fully covered or available at a reduced cost.
Gym Memberships: Some employers provide free or discounted memberships to gyms or wellness programs, encouraging employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Commuter Benefits: Companies may cover public transit passes, provide free or discounted parking, or offer pre-tax commuter benefits to help reduce transportation costs.
Tuition Reimbursement: Employers often reimburse a percentage or cover 100% of education costs for courses, certifications, or degrees related to your role, reducing the financial burden of continued learning.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): These programs often include free or discounted services for financial planning, legal advice, and mental health support, giving you access to valuable resources without additional costs.

Whether fully covered or offered at a discount, these ancillary benefits can provide significant savings and peace of mind, enhancing the overall value of your compensation package.

Choozle covers 100% of long-term disability (LTD), life, and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance while also offering voluntary accident and pet insurance benefits. We also provide wellness reimbursements, transportation reimbursements for office visits, access to two Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), and continuous training and education on maximizing benefits and perks.

Consider Your Recruitment Experience

Your experience throughout the recruitment process can reveal a lot about a company’s culture, communication style, and how much they value their employees. It’s worth considering these factors when weighing a job offer alongside salary, benefits, and perks. Here are a few aspects to think about:

Transparency and Communication: Was the company clear and open about the role, expectations, and compensation package? Transparent communication reflects a company’s overall integrity and how it treats employees.
Responsiveness: Did they follow up in a timely manner, keep you informed of the next steps, and provide a structured timeline? A smooth, responsive hiring process may indicate that the company is organized, values your time, and prioritizes strong internal communication.
Company Culture: Pay attention to how the interviewers interact with you and each other. Are they welcoming, respectful, and engaged? Your interactions with recruiters and potential team members can give you a glimpse of the company’s culture and whether it’s a place where you’ll feel comfortable and valued.
Interview Content: Were the questions thoughtful and relevant? A well-structured interview that aligns with the role you’re applying for reflects that the company takes hiring seriously and wants to ensure a good fit for both parties.
Overall Candidate Experience: Was the process seamless or did it feel disorganized? A positive recruitment experience is often a sign that the company is invested in creating a great employee experience once you’re onboarded.

Taking your recruitment experience into account offers insight into how the company operates and treats its people, helping you determine whether it’s the right place to grow and thrive.

Choozle’s recruitment practices are designed to be fair and equitable. We share transparent processes, expectations, and resources with every candidate, and we list salary ranges in our job postings to ensure clarity from the start. Choozle’s goal is to provide everyone with a fair offer based on their skills and needs, recognizing that not everyone has the luxury of weighing every option.

Learn more about Choozle’s recruitment process and experience here.

Empathy for Those Who Don't Have the Luxury of Weighing Options

While it’s ideal to carefully evaluate salary, benefits, and perks, it’s important to acknowledge that not everyone has the luxury of being selective. For many, career decisions are driven by necessity and the urgent need to secure financial stability. In these cases, weighing every detail of a job offer isn’t always an option—it’s about surviving and meeting basic needs.

Understanding this reality fosters empathy and reminds us that career paths aren’t always linear or filled with ideal choices. For individuals in difficult circumstances, prioritizing immediate income over long-term benefits or perks is necessary. Whether supporting a family, paying off debts, or handling unforeseen expenses, survival takes precedence over the finer details of a compensation package.

It’s also a reminder that employers play a role in supporting those who might not have the freedom to negotiate or assess every aspect of their offer. Offering fair wages, inclusive benefits, and growth opportunities for all employees—regardless of their initial position—can help bridge the gap and provide upward mobility for those in need.

For those fortunate enough to have choices, it’s important to recognize that evaluating job offers is a privilege. This awareness can lead to more understanding and compassion for others whose decisions are driven by survival, not opportunity.

Empathy for Those Who Don't Have the Luxury of Weighing Options

When evaluating a job offer, salary is often the shiny number that grabs your attention—but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Picture your career as a journey. Salary is the map, but the perks, benefits, and culture are the fuel, the travel companions, and the stops along the way that make the trip worthwhile. At Choozle, we believe in offering more than just competitive pay; we want you to thrive, not just survive. We strive to provide balance with flexibility and robust time-off packages to make sure you can unplug, recharge, and be your best self. Curious about growth? At Choozle, we give you the tools to keep climbing. We also understand the realities of job hunting, and that’s why we’re transparent. Choozle lists salary ranges in job postings and includes them in interviews so candidates know what to expect from the start. Our goal is to offer fair and equitable offers based on your skills, experience, and needs.

Think beyond the paycheck. Ask questions! Don’t be afraid to dig deeper into what a company offers. Benefits like healthcare, retirement contributions, and work-life balance aren’t just “extras”—they directly impact your financial well-being and job satisfaction.

So, whether you’re in a position to evaluate every facet of an offer or making decisions based on more immediate needs, remember: a job is more than just a paycheck. At Choozle, we’re here to support your growth, well-being, and success—both now and in the future. Let’s make your journey a fulfilling one.

Christine Jones

Christine Jones is a seasoned People Operations professional with more than 15 years of diverse experience in the field. Serving as the Senior People Operations Generalist at Choozle, Christine leads all aspects of People Operations functions, playing a critical role in shaping the company’s organizational culture and enhancing employee engagement. Christine’s expertise encompasses talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, training and development, benefits administration, key initiatives, and compliance. Committed to fostering inclusive workplaces, Christine strives to ensure every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

The post Beyond the Salary: Evaluating Benefits, Recruitment Experience, and Empathy in Job Decisions appeared first on choozle.

An Overview of Choozle Employee Benefits with Christine Jones

Choozle — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 05:43:36 +0000

One of Choozle’s top priorities now, and since the beginning of the company, is a culture that supports the whole well-being of employees. We strive to create a culture where employee happiness is top-of-mind and in turn, a happy office, as we grow and continue to welcome new Choozlers to the team.

We focus on our team’s growth, balance, and learning opportunities to ensure everyone is thriving both in and outside of the office.

In order to be a successful, smart, and agile company, we know it starts with our team. That’s why we go out of our way to prioritize them with our long list of benefits available for all full-time employees.

Let’s talk about how extensive Choozle’s benefits package actually is. We’ll explain everything that is covered and highlight a few of our favorites.

Core benefits

First and foremost, we provide a base salary and core benefits that are annually reviewed for every Choozle position. Our core benefits include:

Self-managed paid time off
- - Employees are required to take at least 2 days of PTO a quarter
  - It is recommended that employees take an average of 4 weeks off per year
Paid employee volunteering time
- - Employees can donate up to 24 hours (3 days) per calendar year towards a 501c3 charitable organization of their choice
Choice of two Medical insurance plans:
- - Base HSA Plan: employer 100% covered Medical HSA
  - Buy up option PPO: employer covered at 90% & 60% of dependents
Dental insurance, employer covered at 90% & 70% of dependents
Vision insurance
Employer contribution into employee Health Savings Account
- - HSA employee only = $30/month
  - HSA employee + family = $50/month
Employer covers 100% of a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
Employer covers 100% of Telehealth
Employer covers up to 50k of life insurance
Employer paid long term disability provided
Employer provided parental leave
- - Primary parent = 12 weeks
  - Non primary parent = 6 weeks
Two employer-provided Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

A few more optional core benefits include:

Voluntary upgrade options, and voluntary additional Life Plans
Voluntary Pet Insurance
Voluntary Accident Insurance
401k option with 50% company match of the first 6%
Voluntary Flexible Spending Accounts
Voluntary Dependent Care FSA Accounts

Choozle also prioritizes ownership as a meaningful part of everyone’s experience when working at Choozle. We provide meaningful equity bands, so we can continue to take pride in what we build.

Variable benefits

Based on your position at Choozle there are also variable benefits and compensation you could start to see. These include referral bonuses and commissions. We know the best job candidates tend to come from employee referrals, and we reward people who build our team. Commissions are tied to revenue goals based on your position.

The Perks

Now, this is the real fun part of working at Choozle! There are a ton of extra perks that really start to add up once you start working. From monthly stipends to our beautiful office space in Downtown Denver, there’s a lot to love about working at Choozle. Here’s the full list:

Monthly Wellness Stipend:
Continued Education:
Work from Home Stipend
Office/other perks

Our culture is thriving when our employees are thriving. We put a lot of thought into the experience we want our employees to have both inside and outside of the office. We need employees who are healthy, taken care of, and who are ready to grow and learn with us, so we do our best to offer comprehensive benefits that check all of the boxes.

Are you ready to join the Choozle team? Check out our job openings!

Christine Jones

Christine Jones is a seasoned People Operations professional with more than 15 years of diverse experience in the field. Serving as the Sr People Operations Generalist at Choozle, Christine leads all aspects of People Operations functions, playing a critical role in shaping the company’s organizational culture and enhancing employee engagement. Christine’s expertise encompasses talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, training and development, benefits administration, key initiatives, and compliance. Committed to fostering inclusive workplaces, Christine strives to ensure every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. When she’s not at work, you can find her chasing a toddler around the house, frolicking in nature, or playing with her 3 horses.

The post An Overview of Choozle Employee Benefits with Christine Jones appeared first on choozle.

6 Game-Changing Strategies for Onboarding as a New VP of Marketing with Annie Wissner

Sarah Lilly — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:52:42 +0000

When a new VP of Marketing steps into an organization, they are often greeted with a mix of excitement and high expectations. The transition into this leadership role is critical for the individual and the company’s trajectory. Recently, on the Content Strategies podcast with Steven MacDonald, Annie Wissner, VP of Marketing and Customer Experience at Choozle, shared her invaluable insights on how to successfully onboard in this pivotal role. Here’s a breakdown of her key strategies and lessons learned.

Strategy #1: Forge Powerful Alliances Early On

Transform your first month into a relationship-building powerhouse. Connect deeply with key stakeholders to gain insight, identify influencers, and establish your leadership presence. One of the first challenges a new VP of Marketing faces is understanding the landscape of their new environment.

Reflecting on her own experience, she shared how she was scheduled to meet with 30 people in her first 30 days during one of her head of marketing roles. While initially daunting, this approach proved to be incredibly valuable. It allowed her to quickly understand the company’s history, the key players, and who to go to for different aspects of the business. Building these relationships isn’t just about getting to know the team and establishing credibility.

How can you put this into practice? Start by meeting with key stakeholders across various departments within your first month. This includes senior executives, team members, and other influential figures. These interactions help you:

Gain Insight: Understand the company’s history, culture, and key challenges.
Identify Key Players: Recognize who influences decisions and processes.
Establish Credibility: Building relationships early fosters trust and sets the stage for effective collaboration.

Successful marketing leadership hinges on strong peer relationships, especially within the C-suite. The bonds formed during these early days lay the groundwork for effective collaboration and alignment on future initiatives.

Strategy #2: Conduct a Comprehensive Listening Tour

Annie’s approach to onboarding involves what she terms a “listening tour.” addressing both internal and external aspects of the business.

Internal Listening: Engage with team members and review current marketing initiatives, challenges, and strategic objectives. Understand the company’s existing strategies and pain points, as well as gain insight into the business’s culture.
External Listening: Analyze the competitive landscape, customer feedback, and industry trends. Tools like Gong, which record sales and support interactions, can provide insights into customer pain points and competitive dynamics.

By integrating both internal and external listening strategies, you can develop a comprehensive understanding of the business environment and key challenges, ensuring a well-rounded approach to strategic decision-making.

Strategy #3: Master the Art of Strategic Balance

One of the toughest aspects of stepping into a VP of Marketing role is balancing immediate tactical demands with long-term strategic vision. It’s easy to get bogged down by the myriad of urgent tasks that pile up on your desk. Annie’s advice? Stay strategic. She uses project tools to manage her team’s time effectively, ensuring a balanced focus on tactical execution, midterm strategy, and big-picture wins.

A key part of this is learning to say “no” or, at the very least, push back on priorities. Having a plan in place is the only way to incorporate guardrails. It allows you to outline what will be delayed or not completed should a new priority or task take center stage. Aligning with sales, product, and other departments on what truly matters helps avoid getting trapped in a cycle of constant, reactive work.

How do you put this into practice?

Use Project Management Tools: Implement tools like ClickUp or Asana to organize and prioritize tasks. This helps manage time effectively and ensures attention is given to both short-term needs and strategic goals.
Prioritize Strategically: Develop a framework for evaluating tasks and initiatives, learning to say “no” or push back on lower-priority items that do not align with overarching goals.

Mastering the balance between immediate needs and long-term vision requires the disciplined use of project management tools and a clear prioritization strategy. By setting boundaries and maintaining alignment with core objectives, you can ensure that your efforts contribute meaningfully to both short-term successes and long-term goals.

Strategy #4: Secure Quick Wins for Instant Credibility

The first 90 days are crucial. Annie highlights the importance of securing quick wins to establish credibility and prove the value of the marketing function. Whether launching a stalled campaign or optimizing an existing process, these early successes can significantly impact how the new VP is perceived within the organization.

Strategy #5: Elevate Your Content Strategy to a 10/10

Annie rates the importance of content in driving a company’s overall growth and sustainability at a solid 10 out of 10. In today’s digital-first world, content is the backbone of the sales process. Buyers are increasingly self-educating online, making it imperative for content to be engaging, relevant, and strategically distributed across the buyer journey.

She advises adopting a library approach to content creation—assessing what exists, what needs updating, and where gaps are. This ensures that every piece of content is purposeful and aligned with the company’s broader goals.

So how can you put a strong content strategy in place?

Conduct a Content Audit: Begin with a comprehensive review of existing content against key business objectives, product priorities, and industry trends. This audit helps identify which content is effective, which needs updating, and where gaps exist.
Identify Gaps: Analyze the audit results to pinpoint areas where content is lacking or not aligned with current priorities. This could involve missing topics, outdated information, or underdeveloped content themes.
Prioritize Content: Based on the identified gaps, prioritize creating or refining content that addresses the most critical needs. Focus on high-impact pieces that align with business goals, resonate with your target audience, and enhance your competitive position.

By structuring your content strategy this way, you ensure that every piece of content is purposeful, relevant, and strategically aligned with broader company objectives.

Strategy #6: Align Your Team for Maximum Impact

One of Annie’s non-negotiables is setting her team up for success. This begins with a thorough assessment of the team’s skills and roles. She ensures everyone has clear job descriptions, understands their responsibilities, and knows how their role fits within the larger team. This clarity helps reduce friction and ensures the team can operate efficiently and effectively.

Additionally, Annie stresses the importance of aligning metrics with the CEO, executive team, and board expectations. In a metrics-driven environment, having clear, actionable data is crucial for demonstrating the impact of marketing initiatives.

The Final Takeaway

Annie’s final piece of advice is boh simple and profound: if you’re not inspired by the marketing programs and content you’re producing, don’t do it. Only the most outstanding and relevant will stand out in a world where everyone is bombarded with content. Passion and purpose are key to creating marketing that engages and drives results.

By following these strategies, a new VP of Marketing can not only navigate the complexities of their role but also set the foundation for long-term success. Annie’s insights offer a practical roadmap for anyone stepping into this critical position, ensuring they make a lasting impact from day one.

Ready to Dive Deeper?

Elevate your onboarding strategy by tuning into the full conversation. Watch the podcast, “How to Successfully Onboard as a New VP of Marketing,” and gain exclusive insights from Annie Wissner. Don’t miss out on practical advice that can set you up for success from day one. [Watch Now]

The post 6 Game-Changing Strategies for Onboarding as a New VP of Marketing with Annie Wissner appeared first on choozle.

Advocating with Confidence for Yourself and Others

Choozle — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:33:04 +0000

Advocacy in the area of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is a crucial skill in today’s diverse world. Whether standing up for yourself or others, confident advocacy fosters an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard. This blog offers strategies, examples, and preparation processes to advocate effectively in both personal and professional settings, whether interacting with new acquaintances or familiar faces.

JUMP TO:

Understanding DEIB Advocacy
Strategies for Advocating for Yourself
Strategies for Advocating for Others
Preparing for Advocacy: The Process
Navigating ifferent Contexts
Addressing Language and Actions: Strategies for Self-Improvement

Understanding DEIB Advocacy

Before diving into strategies, it’s essential to understand what DEIB advocacy entails:

Diversity: Embracing a wide range of differences, including race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and more.

Equity: Ensuring fair treatment, opportunities, and advancement while striving to identify and eliminate barriers.

Inclusion: Creating environments where any individual or group can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

Belonging: Achieving an environment in which individuals feel a sense of being accepted, included, and appreciated for their unique contributions.

Strategies for Advocating for Yourself

Self-advocacy requires a nuanced approach, one that empowers you to assert your rights and values effectively. By arming yourself with knowledge and reflection, you pave the way for confident advocacy that resonates with your core beliefs and contributes to a more inclusive environment.

1. Know Your Rights and Values
Preparation:

Educate yourself on your rights in various contexts (workplace, community, etc.).
Reflect on your core values and how they align with DEIB principles.

Example: In the workplace, if you feel your ideas are being overlooked in meetings, understanding your right to be heard and knowing the value of diverse perspectives can empower you to speak up.

2. Practice Assertive Communication
Preparation:

Develop communication skills that balance assertiveness with respect.
Practice using “I” statements to express your needs without blaming others.

Example: If a colleague makes an insensitive remark, calmly stating, “I feel uncomfortable when jokes are made about gender because it creates an unwelcoming environment,” can address the issue without escalating conflict.

3. Build a Support Network
Preparation:

Identify advocates within your environment who share similar values.
Seek mentors who can provide guidance and support in DEIB matters.

Example: Joining or forming an employee resource group (ERG) can provide a platform for collective advocacy and mutual support.

Strategies for Advocating for Others

Advocating for others is a powerful way to promote DEIB in any environment. By stepping up to support those who may not have a voice, you contribute to creating a culture of inclusion and respect.

1. Listen Actively and Empathetically
Preparation:

Cultivate active listening skills to truly understand others’ experiences and perspectives.
Approach conversations with empathy and an open mind.

Example: If a colleague confides in you about experiencing discrimination, listen without interrupting, validate their feelings, and ask how you can support them.

2. Use Your Privilege to Amplify Marginalized Voices
Preparation:

Reflect on your own privileges and how they can be leveraged to support others.
Learn about the challenges faced by marginalized groups.

Example: In meetings, if you notice that a coworker from an underrepresented group is being interrupted, you can interject with, “I’d like to hear what [Name] was saying,” to ensure their voice is heard.

3. Educate and Advocate for Systemic Change
Preparation:

Stay informed about DEIB issues and best practices.
Be proactive in suggesting and supporting policies that promote equity and inclusion.

Example: Propose the implementation of bias training programs or advocate for diverse hiring practices within your organization. Come with recommendations, ask questions, be involved.

Preparing for Advocacy: The Process

Effective advocacy requires thoughtful preparation and a commitment to continuous learning. By reflecting on your own experiences, seeking out educational resources, and practicing your advocacy skills, you can build the confidence and competence needed to be a strong advocate.

1. Self-Reflection
Assess your comfort level: Understand where you feel confident and where you need growth in advocating for DEIB.
Identify triggers: Recognize situations that may challenge your advocacy efforts and prepare coping strategies.

2. Research and Education
Stay informed: Regularly read about DEIB issues, attend workshops, and engage with diverse communities.
Learn from others: Observe and learn from experienced advocates in your network or through public forums.

3. Role-Playing and Practice
Simulate scenarios: Practice advocacy conversations with trusted friends or mentors to build confidence.
Seek feedback: After role-playing, get constructive feedback to improve your approach.

4. Take Action
Start small: Begin with low-stakes situations to build your confidence.
Expand your efforts: Gradually take on more challenging advocacy roles as your skills and confidence grow.

Navigating Different Contexts

Advocacy efforts can vary significantly depending on the context and the individuals involved. Whether you are interacting with new acquaintances or those you know well, it’s important to adapt your approach to fit the situation.

1. New Interactions

Be observant: Understand the dynamics and culture before jumping in.
Build rapport: Establish trust and show genuine interest in others’ experiences.

Example: In a new job, attend team-building events and informal gatherings to understand the organizational culture and identify potential allies.

2. Established Relationships

Use existing trust: Leverage the trust built over time to have deeper and more meaningful conversations.
Be consistent: Show ongoing commitment to DEIB values to reinforce your advocacy.

Example: With a long-time friend who makes an offhand insensitive joke, you can say, “I know you didn’t mean harm, but that joke can be hurtful to some people. Can we talk about why?”

Addressing Language and Actions: Strategies for Self-Improvement

Being an advocate for DEIB also means acknowledging when our own language or actions may have caused harm. Recognizing and addressing these moments is crucial for personal growth and fostering a genuinely inclusive environment. Here are strategies to help navigate this challenging but essential aspect of DEIB advocacy.

1. Self-Awareness and Reflection
Preparation:

Acknowledge Mistakes: Accept that everyone can make mistakes, including yourself. This acceptance is the first step towards meaningful change.
Reflect on Your Behavior: Take time to reflect on instances where your language or actions may have been harmful. Consider why you said or did what you did and how it may have affected others.

Example: If you realize that a joke you made could be interpreted as offensive, reflect on why you made that joke and the potential impact on those around you.

2. Educate Yourself
Preparation:

Learn about Harmful Language and Actions: Educate yourself on microaggressions, stereotypes, and other harmful behaviors. Understand why they are hurtful and how they perpetuate discrimination.
Seek Resources: Read books, attend workshops, and follow thought leaders in DEIB to broaden your understanding.

Example: If you used a term that someone pointed out as outdated or offensive, research the history and implications of that term to understand why it is problematic.

3. Practice Mindful Communication
Preparation:

Think Before You Speak: Develop the habit of pausing and considering the potential impact of your words before speaking.
Use Inclusive Language: Make a conscious effort to use language that is inclusive and respectful of all identities.

Example: Instead of assuming someone’s gender based on their appearance, use gender-neutral language until you know their preferred pronouns.

4. Seek and Accept Feedback
Preparation:

Create a Safe Space for Feedback: Let people know that you welcome and appreciate feedback about your behavior and language.
Respond Positively to Criticism: When someone points out that your language or actions were hurtful, thank them for bringing it to your attention and commit to learning from it.

Example: If a colleague tells you that a comment you made was insensitive, respond with, “Thank you for telling me. I didn’t realize it was hurtful, and I’ll be more mindful in the future.”

5. Apologize and Make Amends
Preparation:

Apologize Sincerely: If you realize you have caused harm, apologize promptly and sincerely. Avoid justifying your actions or downplaying the hurt you caused.
Commit to Change: Show through your actions that you are committed to not repeating the mistake.

Example: If you made an insensitive comment in a meeting, apologize to the affected person(s) privately and acknowledge the impact of your words. For instance, “I’m sorry for what I said earlier. It was inappropriate and hurtful, and I’m committed to being more thoughtful in the future.”

6. Develop Empathy and Compassion
Preparation:

Relate: Practice empathy by imagining how it feels to be on the receiving end of harmful language or actions.
Cultivate Compassion: Approach situations with a desire to understand and support others rather than judge or dismiss their experiences.

Example: If a friend shares that your words made them feel excluded, try to understand their perspective and feelings. Respond with compassion and a willingness to change.

Closing Thoughts

Advocating for DEIB with confidence, whether for yourself or others, requires preparation, practice, and persistence. Acknowledging and addressing our own harmful language or actions is a vital part of DEIB advocacy. By being self-aware, seeking education, practicing mindful communication, accepting feedback, apologizing sincerely, and developing empathy, we can grow as individuals and contribute to a more inclusive environment. The journey towards becoming a better advocate involves continuous learning, growth, and self-improvement, and every step you take helps build a more equitable and respectful world.

Christine Jones

Christine Jones is a seasoned People Operations professional with more than 15 years of diverse experience in the field. Serving as the Senior People Operations at Choozle, Christine leads all aspects of People Operations functions, playing a critical role in shaping the company’s organizational culture and enhancing employee engagement. Christine’s expertise encompasses talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, training and development, benefits administration, key initiatives, and compliance. Committed to fostering inclusive workplaces, Christine strives to ensure every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

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Outcomes-Based Advertising: A Paradigm Shift in Marketing

Choozle — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 05:09:46 +0000

In today’s fiercely competitive advertising landscape, where every marketing dollar counts, advertisers seek more than directional metrics like impressions and click-through rates. Enter Outcomes-Based Advertising (OBA). Its central tenet is ceding more control to advertisers by offering clarity and context. In this blog, we’ll delve into this shift, exploring its core principles and why it’s gaining traction among marketers across industries.

Understanding Outcomes-Based Advertising

Gone are the days of straightforward campaign evaluation. Today’s marketers face a myriad of complexities as they navigate omnichannel strategies. Balancing top-of-funnel initiatives with bottom-of-funnel tactics adds layers to the measurement process, where both engagement and performance are paramount.

At its core, Outcomes-Based Advertising transforms the advertising landscape by anchoring every facet of each campaign to meticulously defined objectives. It transcends the limitations of traditional performance marketing, which often fixates solely on predefined “directional” metrics such as targeting a click through rate (CTR) or prioritizing that you need to reach a certain cost per click (CPC). It’s important to note that sometimes what is perceived as directional is actually mis-directing because it’s partial, biased or correlated but not causal.

Instead, Outcomes-Based Advertising embraces a holistic perspective, where strategy and optimization seamlessly intertwine. It’s not merely about hitting targets; it’s about the relentless pursuit of budget optimization,performance excellence, and the discipline to continually fine-tune ad delivery strategies to move the organization forward, contributing to revenue and growth. It’s strategy in motion, where each adjustment is a deliberate step towards achieving unprecedented success.

Performance marketing, as outlined by Gartner, often ties agency payment terms to brand objectives, releasing fees upon campaign success. In contrast, outcome-based advertising focuses on ongoing operations, consistently identifying ad uplift potential and driving decisions based on performance.

Most importantly, it enables advertisers to harness the advantages of enhanced performance and reduced costs. However, a common challenge with many performance models is their emphasis on ‘market rate’ rather than individual advertiser outcomes. For instance, while an industry average customer acquisition cost (CAC) may be around $798, industries such as eCommerce and B2B SaaS often achieve significantly lower costs.

Key Features of Outcomes-Based Advertising

Let’s dive into the core features of Outcomes-Based Advertising. This approach relies on advanced data analytics and AI to provide precise insights into user interactions with ads, enabling real-time result tracking and campaign optimization.

Precision and Actionability: Outcomes-Based Advertising harnesses advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to gain unprecedented insights into user interactions with ads. Brands can now proactively manage real-time and incremental results with precision, allowing for agile decision-making and optimization.
Closed Loop Optimization: By leveraging AI’s predictive capabilities, marketers can analyze past performance and anticipate future trends. This proactive approach maximizes current campaign effectiveness and lays the groundwork for future success.
Beyond Proxies: Unlike limited proxies such as clicks or impressions, Outcomes-Based Advertising focuses on meaningful business outcomes. It aims to move prospects along a path—from awareness to conversion—ultimately increasing customer lifetime value while lowering ad costs. Results could be long-term (e.g., brand awareness) or immediate (e.g., lead generation, transactions, revenue).

The Impact on the Advertising Landscape

In a world where people are overwhelmed with messages, cutting through the noise is crucial. Outcomes-Based Advertising offers brands the opportunity to engage and influence their target audience at every stage of the consumer journey. Whether it’s boosting brand awareness, driving foot traffic, or generating sales, the emphasis is on meaningful action.

Key Points to Consider:

Measuring Success: Outcomes-Based Advertising shifts the focus from mere outputs (such as impressions) to actual outcomes (such as conversions including leads, transactions, revenue, foot traffic, etc.). Brands can now tie their ad spend directly to measurable results, translate that to informed investment decisions, thereby ensuring a better return.
Agility and Adaptability: Harnessing real-time data and AI-driven insights, marketers wield the power to dynamically tailor campaigns across diverse platforms. This surpasses the constraints of traditional auto optimization within a singular platform. Whether it’s swiftly adjusting targeting parameters or fine-tuning creative elements, this agility becomes a potent tool in navigating the multifaceted landscape of digital advertising. It’s not just about reacting in the moment; it’s about strategically adapting to the ever-evolving ecosystem, ensuring campaigns remain effective and impactful across all fronts. According to Forbes, “Traditional attribution models, like single-touch and multi-touch, have been used for years to measure marketing effectiveness. These models, however, have limitations. They often oversimplify the customer’s path to conversion, failing to capture the complexity of real-world interactions.”
Predictive Analytics: Outcomes-Based Advertising leverages predictive analytics to anticipate user behavior. By understanding patterns and trends, marketers can fine-tune their strategies for maximum impact.

Choozle’s Approach: Driving ROI Through Outcomes-Based Advertising

In our pursuit of innovative solutions, we’ve teamed up with ChannelMix to transform the way marketers determine optimal advertising budgets. ChannelMix’s platform empowers marketers to make strategic budget allocation and media mix decisions with ease, armed with comprehensive analytics and actionable recommendations.

Outcome-based marketing boosts customer lifetime value while reducing ad costs. According to MMA Global, it surpasses reach-based media planning by over 50% in terms of ROAS (return on ad spend). Additionally, it accurately predicts ‘movable middles’ with 99% accuracy, highlighting its effectiveness.

What is ChannelMix AI?

ChannelMix AI is ChannelMix’s groundbreaking solution, delivering precise predictions on optimal budget and media mix to achieve your goals. It provides specific budget allocation recommendations for each marketing channel, drawing on a comprehensive analysis of available data sources.

How it Works:

An algorithm examines large amounts of historical data to find relationships between media activity and a target outcome. It uses those relationships to make predictions about future performance.

Predictive Accuracy: ChannelMix AI calculates the exact budget needed to reach your objectives. Each scenario presented includes recommended budget allocations for various marketing channels, ensuring you achieve optimal results.

Confidence in Decision-Making: ChannelMix AI displays the predicted performance to goal for each scenario, allowing you to confidently select the media mix that aligns with your business objectives.

Six Steps for Achieving Discipline in Iterative Paid Media Optimization

Having this visibility allows marketers to implement an agile approach to their optimization. Specifically we recommend:

Establish a solid baseline of your existing paid media strategy and how it aligns with your current business operations
Use data science to understand the interactions of various channels and ensure sufficient confidence factors are integrated into the model.
Define incrementality in your goals, such as increasing lead generation by 15%, to set clear objectives for optimization efforts
Interact with the recommendations provided by the model to devise a strategy tailored to your organization’s needs. This may involve reallocating budget from channels with diminishing returns, adjusting overall budget allocation, and optimizing tactics in underperforming channels.
Implement measured changes to your media buys based on the refined strategy, and closely monitor how outcomes align with the modeled expectations.
Commit to running this optimization cycle on a predetermined frequency to ensure continuous improvement. This ensures your campaigns adapt to changing environmental factors such as seasonality, competitive pressure, and significant events that can influence media pricing.

Embracing Cutting-Edge Technology

At Choozle, we’re on a mission to propel brands into the spotlight, connecting them with their target audience across diverse media and channels. Choozle seamlessly consolidates a suite of digital advertising tools – from a demand-side platform and data management platform to smart tag management – all unified within a user-friendly platform and augmented by our media experts. Partnering with ChannelMix empowers us to offer our clients advanced solutions for optimizing their advertising strategies. With ChannelMix AI’s predictive analytics capabilities, marketers can make informed decisions to maximize their advertising ROI and stay ahead in today’s dynamic landscape.

Welcoming the Future Today

As we look ahead, Outcomes-Based Advertising is more than just a trend; it’s a fundamental shift in how we approach marketing. Agencies and brands that focus on outcomes rather than outputs can create campaigns that capture attention and deliver unparalleled value in today’s competitive landscape.

Adam Woods

Adam Woods is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and held two other roles at Choozle — Chief Client Officer and Chief Technology Officer. Throughout his tenure at Choozle, he has been improving the way that advertisers buy media through the Choozle platform. He has led initiatives to ensure that Choozle leads the space in terms of being a consultative partner that helps ensure the effective deployment of media through a combination of omni-channel planning, targeting best practices, upfront goal setting, and effective measurement.

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Unlocking the Power of Walmart DSP with Choozle

Sarah Lilly — Fri, 24 May 2024 06:56:30 +0000

In the competitive world of digital advertising, success hinges on the right blend of data, technology, and access. At Choozle, we’re thrilled to introduce access to Walmart DSP, made possible through our partnership with The Trade Desk. This integration lets you tap into Walmart’s extensive customer insights and leverage cutting-edge advertising tools to drive exceptional campaign performance. Join us as we explore how this powerful combination can elevate your advertising strategy.

What Is Walmart DSP?

At its core, a Demand-Side Platform (DSP) streamlines the bidding process. Advertisers can participate in real-time auctions across multiple exchanges simultaneously. In the realm of retail media, DSPs extend beyond traditional shopping sites. For instance, Amazon’s DSP allows marketers to bid on ads across streaming TV, Twitch, and other carefully selected offsite channels.

The Walmart Demand Side Platform (DSP) is a pivotal component of Walmart Connect, the company’s robust advertising service. Through Walmart DSP, eligible advertisers gain the ability to target Walmart shoppers beyond the confines of the Walmart platform. This includes reaching audiences across various channels, such as audio, video, CTV (Connected TV), mobile, and display advertising.

Walmart reaches 90% of U.S. households across its online site and its network of physical stores.

Advantages of Walmart DSP: Rich Measurement Capabilities

One significant advantage lies in Walmart’s extensive measurement capabilities. With access to both online and offline shopper behavior data, Walmart covers a staggering 90% of U. households across its online site and physical stores. Advertisers can leverage this rich user data to:

Create audiences of high-value shoppers.
Re-target individuals who browsed but didn’t complete a purchase.
Craft custom or lookalike audiences tailored to specific campaign goals.
Understanding Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs)

How Does Walmart DSP Work?

Walmart DSP enhances your targeting options, enabling you to reach shoppers across various sites on the open internet and connected TV platforms. Launched in 2021 in partnership with The Trade Desk, Walmart DSP empowers advertisers to run display and video ads beyond Walmart’s own site and app.

Key Benefits of Walmart DSP Through Choozle

Activate Extensive Data: Leverage data from Walmart’s 150 million weekly shoppers to target your most valuable audience.
Reach at Every Stage: Engage individuals at every stage of their customer journey across multiple devices and channels to influence their purchase decisions before they visit a Walmart store or website.
Optimize Frequency: Manage frequency to enhance the customer experience and improve brand efficiency.
Measure Effectively: Attribute media spend to sales results using closed-loop measurement for online and in-store sales.

Unmatched Customer Data

Walmart DSP offers advertisers the unique advantage of utilizing Walmart’s extensive customer data, gathered from both online and offline interactions across Walmart’s vast network. This data encompasses detailed purchase history, shopping behaviors, and demographic insights from millions of Walmart shoppers. By tapping into this rich reservoir of first-party data, advertisers can better understand their target audiences and create highly personalized and effective ad campaigns.

Advanced Targeting Capabilities

With Walmart DSP, Choozle advertisers can leverage sophisticated targeting capabilities to reach specific audience segments precisely. This includes targeting based on purchase history, shopping habits, and product-level interactions. Such granular targeting ensures that ads are shown to the most relevant audiences, thereby increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion.

Historical: Past brand buyers, lapsed brand buyers, and past category buyers. Brands can use this to compete for category dominance.
Predictive: Likely and in-market buyers at the brand and category level
Persona: Lifestyle and life stages based on historical purchase data signals
Custom Audiences: Customizable parameters like lookback window, frequency, and purchase channel

Seamless Integration with The Trade Desk

The integration of Walmart DSP through The Trade Desk ensures a seamless and efficient advertising experience. The platform provides robust campaign management, optimization, and reporting tools, allowing advertisers to easily plan, execute, and analyze their campaigns. This enhances advertising efforts’ efficiency and effectiveness, enabling real-time adjustments and data-driven decision-making.

Comprehensive Reach and Impact

By utilizing Walmart DSP, Choozle advertisers can extend their reach to one of the country’s broadest and most engaged shopper bases. This expansive reach, precision targeting capabilities, and rich customer insights translate into impactful advertising that drives results. Whether the goal is to boost brand awareness, drive in-store or online sales, or engage new customer segments, Walmart DSP provides the tools and data necessary to achieve these objectives.

Enhanced ROI

The ability to target the right audience with the right message at the right time, backed by real-time analytics and insights, ensures that advertising budgets are utilized efficiently and effectively.

Connect Campaigns to Sales with Closed-Loop Measurement

Real-time reporting throughout the camping flight
Attribute online and in-store Walmart sales outcome to campaign spend
Track conversions on your brand site with universal pixels
Measure incremental reach across Walmart DSP and Choozle

The Bottom Line

Leveraging Walmart DSP through Choozle represents a significant opportunity for advertisers to harness the power of advanced data and technology to drive superior advertising outcomes. This offering allows Choozle to provide advertisers the tools they need to create highly targeted, impactful, and measurable ad campaigns. Embrace this innovative approach to elevate your advertising strategy and achieve results.

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The Choozle Platform: Your Programmatic Advertising Powerhouse

Sarah Lilly — Mon, 13 May 2024 09:40:36 +0000

Welcome to Choozle. We’re dedicated to revolutionizing how modern marketers approach digital advertising. Our platform is the ultimate connector, bridging the gap between marketers and the most advanced advertising technology available in today’s dynamic programmatic landscape.

In this blog, you’ll learn more about how managing your digital media with the Choozle platform becomes a seamless experience, empowering you to navigate and achieve results confidently.

Feature-Rich & Powerful Campaign Management

Navigating the complexities of programmatic advertising demands a solution that simplifies the process and empowers you to unleash its full potential. That’s where Choozle comes in.

At the core of our platform is a robust suite of features designed to streamline campaign management. Whether you’re a seasoned industry expert or just starting out, our software is tailored to meet your unique needs at every step.

From campaign creation to optimization and reporting, Choozle delivers a seamless and intuitive experience. Set precise goals, create compelling campaigns, and effortlessly fine-tune your targeting strategies within a single, unified platform.

Say goodbye to the days of juggling multiple tools and platforms. With Choozle, you gain access to a comprehensive solution that simplifies your workflow, maximizing efficiency and effectiveness in executing campaigns.

Easy Media Buying at Scale

Gain direct access to premier Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs) like The Trade Desk, Amazon Ads, and Walmart Connect. Choozle simplifies media buying, maximizing your budget and impact effortlessly.

Media buys are seamless without dealing with multiple logins or disparate interfaces. With Choozle, you have the power to access premium inventory, optimize your bidding strategies, and reach your target audience with precision—all from a single, intuitive platform.

Fine-Tune Towards Your Goals

Crafting impactful campaigns isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about reaching them with precision. With Choozle, you have the power to define your objectives, set your budget, and optimize your strategy for success in mere minutes.

Dive deep into your campaign objectives and meticulously fine-tune your targeting parameters for maximum impact. With granular options for pacing, impression capping, and access to preferred supply vendors, Choozle empowers you to customize your campaigns to suit your unique needs.

Whether you prefer hands-on adjustments or automated optimization, Choozle offers the flexibility to drive results that perfectly align with your vision. Witness the satisfaction of watching your campaigns soar to new heights thanks to Choozle’s robust suite of optimization tools and features.

Driving Results With An Omnichannel Strategy

In today’s interconnected digital landscape, reaching your audience requires more than a single-channel approach. With Choozle, you have the power to run omnichannel strategies that engage your audience across multiple touchpoints, driving brand awareness and conversions like never before.

Our platform allows you to orchestrate cohesive campaigns across display, video, connected TV, mobile, and more. With Choozle’s robust targeting capabilities and real-time optimization, you can ensure a consistent brand experience across every channel, maximizing your impact and ROI.

Discover the Power of In-Platform AI Optimization

With in-platform AI optimization for ad groups, you can unlock new levels of efficiency and performance across your campaigns. Because we’ve connected to the largest DSP providers, you inherit access to their high-investment R&D budget for AI.

More specifically, The Trade Desk’s optimization engine, Koa, handles basic optimizations across multiple dimensions to boost CPMs on top-performing inventory, trim underperforming inventory, and direct spend toward your chosen KPIs. With real-time insights and automated adjustments, you can optimize your campaigns effortlessly and see tangible results. Most importantly, these capabilities allow your media teams to be less focused on fine-tuning and reinvesting their time into higher-value strategic thinking about optimizing across channels and messaging—transition from uncertainty and guesswork to data-driven decision-making.

Data-Driven Targeting for Future-Proof Campaigns

Stay ahead of the curve with Choozle’s data-driven targeting capabilities. From leveraging in-platform CRM data to building custom audiences and targeting by device type, our platform empowers you to reach your audience precisely, even in a cookieless future.

Access over 60 third-party data providers, exclusive second-party retail data from Amazon, The Trade Desk, and Walmart, and dive into 10,000+ private marketplace deals for direct access to premium content.

Elevate your targeting strategy with enterprise-grade first-party data-matching technology powered by LiveRamp, unlocking unparalleled opportunities for tailored campaigns that resonate with your audience.

Reporting and Analytics for Actionable Insights

Tracking the performance of your campaigns is essential for driving continuous improvement and maximizing your impact. Choozle’s detailed reporting and analytics give you real-time insights into critical metrics and help you make informed decisions to optimize your campaigns for success.

Monitor key performance indicators such as pacing, spending, impressions, clicks, and conversion rates easily. Our platform provides actionable insights that enable you to identify trends, spot opportunities, and make data-driven decisions to drive results.

Choozle’s data warehouse, backed by Snowflake and Fivetran, enables you to access and analyze your data wherever you want. It is extendable out of the box to robust omnichannel reporting platforms like NinjaCat & TapClicks. Effortlessly query across multiple sources and unlock valuable insights to drive informed decisions and maximize your advertising impact.

Seamless Integration and Endless Possibilities

Explore our comprehensive array of managed-service offerings powered by strategic collaborations with top-tier data and identity providers. With Choozle’s campaign manager and low-code site tagging solution, you can streamline your workflow and access rich datasets.

Whether you opt for hands-on management through self-service advertising or seek customized support from our seasoned team, Choozle empowers advertisers to enhance their digital advertising endeavors with unmatched access to enterprise-grade resources.

Navigating the Digital Media Landscape

As you continue your journey to digital advertising success, remember that Choozle is more than just a platform—we’re a partner dedicated to your growth and success. With our comprehensive suite of tools and capabilities and full-service support team, you have everything you need to navigate the complexities of digital advertising with confidence.

So why wait? Experience Choozle for yourself and harness the full potential of your advertising strategy. Take the first step towards achieving your goals with Choozle by your side by scheduling a meeting with our team today.

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Driving Results with Paid Media: 6 Key Trends for 2024

Choozle — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:18:27 +0000

In today’s digital landscape, change isn’t just happening; it’s accelerating. According to Gartner’s 2023 CMO Spend and Strategy Survey, 25.6% of marketing budgets are now dedicated to paid media, underscoring its critical role in marketing strategies. The combination of new technology, changing consumer behavior, and updated regulations means the old ways of reaching customers aren’t going to cut it anymore. It’s crucial not just to keep up but to lead.

This blog is your roadmap through the key trends in paid media that will shape not only 2024 but also the years ahead. Identifying these trends is step one. The real game-changer is knowing how to use them to get real results—increasing engagement, driving up ROI, and building meaningful connections with your audience.

We’re diving into the essential paid media trends for 2024, showing you how to thrive in a digital advertising world that never stands still. This isn’t about keeping up with the future of advertising; it’s about defining it.

Understanding Digital Paid Media

Paid media is all about strategic promotion. Brands buy exposure and visibility across digital channels like search engines, social media, display networks, Connected TV (CTV), and other online spaces. The main goal? Target the right people, drive traffic, and convert leads.

Let’s break down paid media into five key elements:

1. Search Engine Advertising (SEA): Have you ever noticed those ads at the top of your search results? That’s paid search in action. When you search for something, like “best pizza near me,” those businesses have paid to appear there. Platforms like Google Ads allow companies to bid on keywords to increase ad visibility. And it’s a significant industry. According to eMarketer, 42% of all digital marketing spending goes into search marketing. Its popularity stems from its effectiveness.

2. Social Media Advertising: You’ve probably seen sponsored posts pop up on. your Facebook or Instagram feed.edia advertising at work. Advertisers can target their campaigns based on your age, interests, and even what you’ve been chatting about online. According to a recent report from Datareportal, more people discover new brands, products, and services via social media ads than word-of-mouth recommendations, brand and product websites, and consumer review sites.

3. Display Advertising: You know those flashy banners or videos that sometimes show up on websites? That’s display advertising. They’re there to catch your attention and get you to click through to learn more. Google has the largest display ads network, reaching 90% of internet users worldwide. It includes over 35 million websites, apps, and Google-owned properties.

4. Native Advertising: Ever read an article online or caught a show on your favorite streaming service and noticed a recommendation for a product or service that fits seamlessly into the content? That’s native advertising. It blends right in with what you’re already reading or watching, making it feel like a natural part of the experience. And they work. Native ads can increase brand lift by as much as 82%, based on the 2024 Gitnux Marketdata Report.

5. Content Promotion Advertising: Sometimes, brands want to get their content in front of more people. That’s where content promotion comes in. Whether it’s a blog post, a video, or an infographic, companies can pay to boost it, making sure more folks see it and engage with it. And it continues to grow. In 2024, 45% of content marketers expect their content marketing budget to increase, according to Zippia.

Unlocking Growth: The Strategic Power of Paid Media

Paid media isn’t just a checkbox on your marketing to-do list; it’s a strategic powerhouse that fuels growth and amplifies your brand’s impact. Here’s why paid media is an indispensable part of any integrated marketing strategy:

Amplification Beyond Organic Reach: Paid media extends your voice beyond the confines of organic efforts. It’s like turning up the volume on your brand message, ensuring it resonates with a broader audience. When your organic reach hits its limits, paid media steps in, ensuring your content and messages reach the right people at the right time. Based on data from Techjury, PPC traffic converts 50% better than organic site visitors.

Laser-Sharp Targeting Efficiency: Imagine having a precision-guided missile for your marketing campaigns. That’s what paid media offers. You can zero in on specific demographics, behaviors, and interests with granular targeting options. Eliminate concerns about wasting resources on irrelevant audiences. With our outstanding strategy team backing you, your message resonates with the precise audience your brand aims to engage.

Driving Conversions and Revenue: Paid media isn’t just about impressions; it’s about action. It funnels traffic to your landing pages, product showcases, or lead forms. When a user clicks, subscribes, or purchases, that’s where the magic happens. Paid media directly impacts conversions and revenue.

Evolution of Paid Media

Over the years, paid media has evolved significantly:

Early 2000s: Keyword-Centric Approach Intense bidding wars for keywords with advertisers competing for top spots in search engine results.

2010s: Segmentation and Personalization Targeted ad placements based on demographics, behavior, and interests, thanks to more sophisticated platforms.

2010s-2020s: Mobile and Video Dominance Content optimized for smartphones and the rise of video ads, with platforms like YouTube becoming key for engaging video ads. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ gained prominence, offering a vast library of TV shows and movies. CTV became the technical core for programmatic TV (PTV), enabling precise audience-based targeting.

Present: Data-Driven Optimization Use of advanced analytics and machine learning to fine-tune campaigns in real-time, informed by every click, impression, and interaction. CTV ads are streamed through smart TVs, connected devices (Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, etc.), gaming consoles, and more. Advertisers leverage CTV’s flexibility to communicate with customers along their buying journey. CTV ad spending has surged, projected to reach over $41 billion by 2027.

But that’s just the beginning! Next, let’s review the top trends to watch in 2024 as paid media continues to evolve and shape the digital landscape.

6 Top Paid Media Trends to Watch in 2024

As we look at media trends for 2024, innovation is driving key shifts in advertising strategies. From location targeting to the rise of AI and machine learning, each trend brings unique opportunities and challenges for marketers seeking to stay ahead of the curve. Let’s explore these trends and their implications for advertisers in the ever-changing digital ecosystem.

Trend 1: Location Targeting

We’re witnessing a significant shift towards local advertising targeting. Location targeting is becoming a key player in delivering highly relevant content to specific audiences based on their location.

Location-based targeting tactics include geofencing, geoframing, and geolocation targeting:

Geofencing allows you to draw a virtual fence around a location and serve ads to mobile device users inside that geofenced area.
Geoframing collects mobile device IDs from users who have entered a predefined location at a specific time and allows you to target those users after they’ve left.
Geolocation targeting allows you to target countries, cities, neighborhoods, or regions by postal code.

By leveraging these tactics, you can increase brand visibility, compete with more prominent brands, and capture the attention of your target audience at the right place and time. The Choozle advertising platform is purpose-built to excel in location targeting, delivering impactful results for our clients.

“Choozle was incredibly supportive by increasing our website traffic and inbound marketing leads. I also like that they have solutions for CRM audience matching, geofencing and geoframing campaigns.” – Nicole C., G2 Review

Trend 2: The Rise of AI and Machine Learning in Ad Optimization

AI and machine learning are reshaping the paid media landscape, fundamentally altering ad targeting, bidding, and personalization. These cutting-edge technologies deliver unparalleled precision and efficiency, utilizing algorithms to forecast audience behavior and optimize campaigns in real time. Marketers are experiencing substantial improvements in ROI and campaign effectiveness as a result.

AI workflow streamlines processes and levels the playing field, empowering all stakeholders to prioritize strategy and outcomes. This AI-driven transformation enhances scalability and agility and equips marketers with deeper insights into campaign performance, facilitating data-driven decision-making and strategy refinement. As AI continues to advance, its pivotal role in paid media will undoubtedly redefine the future of advertising.

Trend 3: Interactive and Immersive Ad Formats

The emergence of interactive and immersive ad formats, such as AR, VR, and interactive video, reshapes how brands engage with their audiences. These formats allow for deeper and more engaging experiences, capturing consumers’ attention like never before. Brands leverage these technologies to create compelling experiences that resonate with their audience and drive meaningful interactions.

Trend 4: Social Commerce and Shoppable Ads

Social media platforms are evolving into full-fledged shopping destinations, with the integration of e-commerce capabilities directly into ads. Shoppable ads transform social platforms into valuable sales channels, allowing brands to turn engagement into revenue. Marketers are exploring best practices for leveraging these trends to drive sales and foster customer relationships.

Trend 5: Third-Party Cookie Alternatives

Google’s decision to eliminate third-party cookies from Chrome by early 2025 has sparked uncertainty among marketers and advertisers in medium-sized businesses regarding the future of tracking, targeting, and measurement. Despite the impending changes, this transition also opens doors for pioneering new and inventive strategies with the potential for substantial returns.

At Choozle, our approach to advertising in a post-cookie world is proactive and solution-oriented. While there are concerns about Google’s progress raised by the IAB, We see this shift as a significant opportunity for industry collaboration to strengthen the open web.

We’ve outlined five key actions to address the core challenge:

Implementing Privacy-First Frameworks like UID 2.0: Once they gather a critical mass of opted-in emails, publishers should seamlessly incorporate this signal into ad placements. Privacy-first frameworks like UID 2.0 enable secure interactions without relying on third-party cookies.
Geospatial Data Drives Better Insights: Leveraging technologies like Geocoding transforms digital maps for retailers. By understanding customer behavior and demographics, precise geotargeting becomes possible. This alignment with privacy regulations benefits advertisers and the broader regulatory landscape, leading to tailored marketing campaigns and increased foot traffic.
Enhancing First-Party Engagement for Advertisers: Advertisers, especially beyond e-commerce, need authentic strategies to collect first-party engagement. This challenge persists in non-e-commerce spaces like CPG, where retailers often mediate interactions.
Ensuring Compliance and Security for Third-Party Data Providers: Third-party data providers must prioritize compliance and security when collecting identity data.
Collecting Opted-In First-Party Data from Publishers: Publishers and streaming content providers are adopting paywalls and daily caps to incentivize email collection from logged-in users, yielding valuable first-party data.

Interested in learning how you can succeed in advertising in a post-cookie world? Check out our Guide to Navigating the Post-Cookie World.

Trend 6: Market Consolidation

The media industry continues to experience an intense phase of consolidation, marked by notable mergers such as Disney’s acquisition of Twentieth Century Fox and the CBS-Viacom merger, reshaping the landscape. This consolidation trend is centralizing control, forming larger media conglomerates with enhanced bargaining power and strategic capabilities in advertising. A recent World Federation of Advertisers survey found that 79% of brands planned an agency transformation process while 53% sought to centralize agency.

With this consolidation, the big players are delivering robust capabilities and strategies accessible at all levels, not just in creative aspects but also in workflow and predictive clearing. They’re streamlining the supply path, reducing intermediaries, and improving market clarity while creating more value.

With that said, as independent media outlets decrease, competition for ad spaces within these conglomerates intensifies. This can lead to higher prices and decreased negotiability in ad placements. Additionally, the concentration of media ownership may result in fewer, albeit more expansive, advertising platforms, influencing the strategy and execution of media buys.

Advertisers need to prioritize building strong relationships with conglomerates that control multiple media properties to navigate this consolidated landscape. Leveraging integrated advertising solutions these conglomerates offer can grant access to a wider audience through a single negotiation point. Advertisers should also examine advanced targeting and personalization options enabled by the consolidated data capabilities of these large entities to enhance campaign effectiveness.

Delivering Meaningful Outcomes

In today’s fiercely competitive digital landscape, aligning emerging trends with specific marketing objectives is crucial for brands and agencies aiming to stay relevant and succeed. Ensuring they’re aligned with your business goals is important to leverage these trends effectively. Whether your focus is on increasing brand awareness, boosting website traffic, enhancing customer loyalty, or improving conversion rates, this alignment forms the foundation of an effective strategy.

Media Mix Modeling (MMM) and Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA)

Media Mix Modeling (MMM) is a foundational method for evaluating how well different media channels contribute to achieving business goals. This method involves looking at past data to see how channels like CTV, audio, and digital-out-of-home (DOOH) advertising impact sales and other important metrics. By measuring each channel’s impact on overall marketing success, MMM gives marketers a thorough understanding of their media strategy.

Unlike Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA), which focuses on individual interactions, MMM provides a broad view of marketing effectiveness across all channels. Using advanced statistical techniques, MMM identifies connections between media spending and business results. With these insights, marketers can adjust their media mix to get the most out of their investment and effectively meet strategic goals.

In the end, Media Mix Modeling (MMM) and Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA) help marketers make smart decisions about allocating resources by showing which media channels drive the best results.

At Choozle, we leverage cutting-edge AI-powered tools such as Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA) and Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) to empower our advertisers with invaluable insights that elevate their marketing strategies and drive tangible outcomes. These sophisticated tools not only unveil inefficiencies but also streamline resource allocation, enabling brands to achieve superior results by minimizing wastage. While MTA focuses on pinpointing the effectiveness of individual touchpoints, MMM broadens the scope by delving into wider marketing dynamics, encompassing external variables. By synergizing MTA’s granular insights with MMM’s comprehensive analysis, advertisers are equipped to make well-informed, data-backed decisions, optimize campaign performance, and ultimately maximize efficiency.

The Bottom Line

As we’ve explored the evolving landscape of paid media in 2024, it’s evident that the path to success lies in identifying key trends and harnessing them to deliver meaningful outcomes.

By aligning emerging trends with specific business objectives, brands and agencies can unlock new opportunities for growth and engagement. Whether leveraging location targeting to reach audiences with pinpoint accuracy or embracing AI and machine learning to optimize ad performance, strategically integrating these trends is essential for driving results.

Methodologies like Media Mix Modeling (MMM) and Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA) offer invaluable insights into the effectiveness of marketing efforts, empowering marketers to make data-driven decisions and optimize resource allocation for maximum impact.

Navigating the dynamic landscape of paid media requires innovation and adaptability. By embracing change and experimenting with new strategies, marketers can keep pace with the evolving digital ecosystem and define the future of advertising itself.

Adam Woods

The post Driving Results with Paid Media: 6 Key Trends for 2024 appeared first on choozle.

Fostering Inclusivity: The Power of Inclusive Language in the Workplace

Choozle — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:30:04 +0000

In today’s diverse and dynamic workplaces, fostering inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a fundamental aspect of creating a supportive and productive environment for all employees. One powerful tool in achieving this goal is the use of inclusive language. By consciously choosing our words and expressions, we can create a workplace culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best. In this blog, we’ll delve into why inclusive language matters and how employees can become advocates to each other in this journey.

Welcoming Diversity

Inclusive language acknowledges and respects diversity in all its forms—race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, or any other characteristic. By using neutral and affirming language, we avoid unintentionally marginalizing or excluding certain groups of people. For instance, instead of using gender-specific terms like “he” or “she,” opting for gender-neutral pronouns like “they” can ensure that individuals of all genders feel seen and respected.

Promoting a Sense of Belonging

In addition, inclusive language promotes a sense of belonging among employees. When individuals hear their identities reflected positively in the language used within the workplace, they feel more valued and accepted. This, in turn, leads to increased morale, engagement, and productivity. Inclusive language also helps to break down stereotypes and biases by challenging assumptions and promoting a more open-minded perspective.

How can employees be advocates to each other in promoting inclusive language and fostering an inclusive workplace culture?

1. Educate Yourself: Take the initiative to educate yourself about different identities, experiences, and perspectives. This could involve attending workshops, reading relevant literature, or conversing with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. The more you understand, the better equipped you’ll be to use inclusive language and support your peers.

2. Speak Up: Don’t stay silent if you hear someone using exclusionary or offensive language. Politely educate them about the impact of their words and suggest alternative, more inclusive language. Sometimes, people may not be aware of the harm caused by their language, so your intervention can help raise awareness and promote positive change.

3. Lead by Example: Be mindful of your language in everyday interactions. Use inclusive language in meetings, emails, presentations, and informal conversations. By demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity in your own words and actions, you inspire others to do the same.

4. Support Diversity Initiatives: Advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives within your organization. This could involve participating in diversity training programs, joining employee resource groups, or supporting diversity-focused recruitment efforts. By actively championing diversity, you create a more inclusive workplace culture for everyone.

The power of inclusive language in the workplace cannot be overstated. It’s a simple yet profound way to show respect, build trust, and foster a sense of belonging among employees. Together, let’s commit to making inclusivity a goal and a reality in our workplaces and beyond.

How We Created This Guide

The journey towards creating an inclusive language guide began with recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion within our company culture at Choozle. We worked alongside employees who shared their experiences and perspectives, highlighting the impact of language on fostering inclusivity. Internal discussions and external influences, such as societal shifts towards greater awareness of diversity issues, spurred our commitment to address language usage comprehensively. Formal initiatives were initiated, including forming a committee dedicated to diversity and inclusion. We conducted employee surveys and held focus groups to gather input on language preferences and concerns. Collaborating closely with team members, we developed best practices through iterative processes. Employees at all levels participated, offering valuable insights and feedback. This collaborative effort led to creating a comprehensive guide that serves as a reference for all communication within the organization, reflecting our collective commitment to inclusivity at Choozle.

How You Can Use This Guide

The following guidelines reflect the principles of inclusive language: utilize gender-neutral terms; refrain from using ableist language; prioritize individuals over their disabilities or circumstances; avoid making sweeping generalizations about people, regions, cultures, and countries; and steer clear of slang, idioms, metaphors, and other words with potentially negative connotations or histories. While this list isn’t exhaustive, it highlights the types of language to be mindful of.

This guide will be a valuable resource for auditing language across various mediums, including websites, software applications, documentation, and verbal communication.

Problematic Words and Phrases

This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list; please do your own research to continue to build your awareness.

Problem Words	Alternatives
Blackout Days/Dates Black/Gray Days	Blackout Days/Dates Black/Gray Days
Black & White	Contrasting concepts, simplicity, clarity, clear distinction,
Black List	deny/denied list/block list
White List	Allow list/preferred list
Blackbox	Closed box, closed system, opaque glassbox, unknown origin
Whitebox	Known, open system, clear box testing
Blackbox/Whitebox	clear/opaque, viewed/hidden, visible/invisible, clarify
Master	Primary, main, template, active, primary
Dummy Pixel	Placeholder, test
Story Grooming, Hardening	Refinement, planning, finalizing, securing, sure-up
Blindspot	unknowns
Pow-wow	Meeting, sync
Long Time No See	It’s been a while, it’s been forever
Gyp or Gypped	Robbed, cheated, defrauded
Rule of Thumb	Benchmark, guideline, standard, specification, protocol
Low-hanging Fruit, Easy-job	Fact-based, quick wins, most attainable
Circle the Wagons	Circling back, follow-up
Low Man on the Totem	Need to get approvals from others
Hold Down the Fort	Keep up to date on, being point of contact, taking the lead, get together as a team
“My Spirit Animal”	That person inspires me, I identify w/, very relatable, that’s my vibe
Mission Critical	High importance, urgency
Being on the Front Lines	Client facing
In the Trenches	Working together/alongside, still working through
Dancing Around the Fire	On the same page, alignment
Drinking the Kool-Aid, Lions Kool-Aid	Groupthink
Age Comments	Compliment facts, don’t make generalizations/assumptions/grouping
Drinkers vs Non	Coffee or drink
Anti-Country	Redirect conversation back to purpose
Political References	Redirect conversation back to purpose
Name Pronunciation	Ask them, make an effort
Mental Health, Crazy, OCD, Bipolar, ADHD	Feeling different/off/focused

Fostering Inclusivity

In addition to creating an inclusive language guide, fostering a truly inclusive workplace involves actively supporting one another as advocates by standing in solidarity. Advocates play a crucial role in advocating for and supporting marginalized colleagues. This can include amplifying their voices in meetings, challenging biased language or behavior, and actively seeking opportunities to include them in conversations and decision-making processes. By standing up against discrimination and inequality, advocates contribute significantly to creating a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

Solidarity transcends mere sympathy; it demands active engagement, education, and unwavering commitment to dismantling oppressive structures and fostering social justice. It’s about leveraging privilege and influence to challenge systemic inequalities, biases, and discrimination.

At its core, solidarity involves listening to marginalized voices, amplifying their experiences, advocating for their rights, and taking tangible steps toward creating an inclusive and equitable society where everyone can thrive. But solidarity doesn’t end there. It’s also about acknowledging mistakes and having the humility to apologize and learn from them.

Don’t forget that self-advocacy is equally important. Employees should feel empowered to speak up for themselves, assert their needs, and seek support when necessary. This may involve communicating preferences regarding language or accommodations, addressing instances of discrimination or microaggressions, and actively participating in initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within the company. By advocating for themselves, employees ensure that their voices are heard and contribute to shaping a workplace culture that embraces and celebrates diversity in all its forms.

Self-advocacy is knowing one’s worth, setting clear goals, and communicating assertively, which are just a few key strategies in the arsenal of self-advocacy. By actively seeking feedback, documenting achievements, and building supportive relationships, individuals can empower themselves to navigate their professional and personal journeys with confidence and resilience.

Celebrating personal victories and fostering a culture of cross-departmental success can further bolster self-esteem and morale. And when it comes to feedback, let’s not confine ourselves to the limitations of yearly reviews. Embracing tools for continuous feedback ensures that growth and improvement remain ongoing processes.

In essence, solidarity and advocacy are intertwined pathways to empowerment and inclusivity. By embracing these principles, we not only uplift ourselves but also contribute to a more just and equitable world for all.

Final Thoughts

By fostering a culture of solidarity and advocacy alongside creating an inclusive language guide, we can continue to move forward on our journey toward building a workplace where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.

Christine Jones

The post Fostering Inclusivity: The Power of Inclusive Language in the Workplace appeared first on choozle.